Word
folk
US/ˈfoʊk/
UK/fˈəʊk/
Definitions
01people in general
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Informal
n. people in general, or a specific group of people.
n. people in general or a specific collective group. Often used in the plural 'folks' as a friendly or informal address.
日本語:民※
“The local folks are very friendly to tourists who visit the village.”
“The town meeting was packed with local folks eager to voice their concerns about the proposed highway expansion.”
02family members
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Informal
n. your family, especially your parents.
n. one's relatives, specifically one's parents. Almost exclusively used in the plural form.
“I am going back home this weekend to visit my folks.”
“After living abroad for a decade, he found it difficult to adjust to the quiet lifestyle of his folks back in the countryside.”
03folk music
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Music
n. traditional music from a particular country or region.
n. traditional music originating among the common people of a nation or region, typically transmitted orally.
“The festival features a mix of modern rock and traditional folk.”
“The singer-songwriter drew heavy inspiration from Appalachian folk, blending acoustic guitar with haunting, traditional melodies.”
Synonyms
04traditional or regional
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to the traditional culture, art, or stories of ordinary people.
adj. pertaining to the traditional beliefs, customs, and culture of the common people.
“She loves collecting folk art from the different countries she visits.”
“The museum's collection of folk costumes provides a fascinating glimpse into the regional identities of the nineteenth century.”
Synonyms
05vernacular architecture
C1 · Advanced Architecture Technical
adj. relating to buildings made with local materials and traditional styles.
adj. relating to traditional architecture using local materials and styles, often without a professional architect.
“The village is famous for its folk architecture and stone cottages.”
“The preservation society aims to protect examples of folk architecture that demonstrate how early settlers adapted to the harsh climate.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “folk” in context.
Verb
01. visit your folk
“Are you going back to your hometown to visit your folk this Christmas?”
verb + possessive + noun
Adjective
02. country folk
“Country folk often have a different pace of life compared to people in the city.”
adj + noun
03. local folk
“The local folk were very welcoming to the tourists who visited the village.”
adj + noun
04. old folk
“There is a community center in town that organizes activities for old folk.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. folk dance
“The children learned a traditional folk dance for the school festival.”
noun + noun
06. folk music
“We spent the evening listening to traditional folk music by the campfire.”
noun + noun
07. folk tale
“My grandmother used to tell me a famous folk tale about a clever rabbit.”
noun + noun
Etymology
From Middle English folk, from Old English folc, from Proto-West Germanic folk, from Proto-Germanic fulką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European pl̥h₁-gós, from pleh₁- (“to fill”). Cognate with German Volk, Dutch volk, Swedish folk and Danish folk. Doublet of volk.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/folk
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0